By Kelli Nesbitt, Parks & Recreation Marketing Coordinator
No, the fall semester is not starting a month early.
In fact, students have nothing to do with the thousands of people pouring into Bryan-College Station this week. Blame this friendly invasion on archery, golf, judo, lifeguard competition, pickleball, sand volleyball, skateboarding, soccer, swimming, tennis, and track field.
Those 11 sports comprise the 2018 Texas Amateur Athletic Federation’s Summer Games of Texas, which will be conducted Thursday through Monday at venues across College Station and Bryan. The Olympic-like festival features more than 7,000 amateur athletes of all ages from across the state competing in multiple sporting events, mostly in swimming and track and field.
Admission is free at all events except for swimming and track and field. Daily tickets are $7 for swimming and $5 for track and field. Credit cards will be accepted only at swimming.
The City of College Station, in collaboration with the City of Bryan and Texas A&M, is playing host for the sixth time after conducting the event in 1988, 1994, 2000, 2014, and 2015. We’ll be the host city again next year. The 2015 Summer Games of Texas attracted more than 20,000 athletes, coaches, families, and volunteers who registered an estimated economic impact of about $7.5 million.
We invite you to help us welcome our visitors at the opening ceremonies Friday at the Wolf Pen Creek Festival Site. The parade of athletes begins at 6:30 p.m. led by the Prairie View A&M University Drum Line and ending with Team Fastrax, a skydiving and pyrotechnic team.
Traffic Delays and Facility Closures
- All College Station Parks and Recreation facilities except the Larry J. Ringer Library will be closed Thursday through Sunday.
- Expect delays around College Station High School from Thursday through Sunday. Lanes will be minimized to accommodate parking.
- Holleman Drive from Dartmouth Street to the former Sears Service Center parking lot will be closed Friday from 4-9 p.m.
You may follow the Games of Texas on facebook.com/taafnation. For more information, visit taaf.com/gamesoftexas or call 979-764-3486.
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About the Blogger
Kelli Nesbitt (@kneztalk) has served the Parks & Recreation Department for 14 years, the last seven as marketing coordinator. A native of Bryan, Kelli earned a bachelor’s degree in health & kinesiology from Sam Houston State.
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